u/RoronoaZoro1111

I just finished my M.Tech in CSE (AI/ML focus) but got placed in the Pervasive Verification team at IBM India. I have absolutely zero hardware background, but I’ve been given the choice to pursue either formal or functional verification.

I’m trying to decide on my long-term career trajectory:

- Formal Verification: Use my math background to prove chip logic.

- Functional Verification: More mainstream, but still heavily hardware-focused.

- Pivot to SDE/AI: Focus on traditional software engineering where my degree directly aligns.

My concern is that if I stay in verification, I’ll build a hyper-niche skillset ("AI" + "Verification"?) and become too siloed. I value long-term career growth, adaptability, and job security in the broader (Indian) tech market.

Should I double down on learning hardware and verification from scratch, or keep my focus on standard software engineering to eventually transition back into pure software roles?

Which path offers better long-term mobility and exit opportunities right now? Would love to hear from verification/semiconductor folks or anyone who navigated a similar degree-to-job mismatch!